Some Modest Proposals on Ticket Prices

Fred Rosen says it “costs significantly more to make and market movies today” and “it makes sense” to raise tickets on weekends and openings (“Movie Industry Needs to Look at Variable Pricing,” by Fredric D. Rosen, Counterpunch, May 18.).

It might make sense for Tinseltown to rethink the mega-millions of dollars it spent on over-inflated scripts (Joe Eszterhas), egomaniac producers (Don Simpson, Jon Peters), stratospheric “golden parachutes” (Michael Ovitz) and self-indulgent, star-driven movies (“Waterworld,” “The Postman”).

Don’t expect the public to pay for Hollywood’s excesses. It has to make better movies for less money.

JOHN HOLMSTROM

Los Angeles

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Here’s an alternative: How about showing a film first, and, on the way out, letting the audience members choose what price they think is fair? That would prompt executives to do some real “creative thinking.”

JEFF BOOK

Beverly Hills

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I sure wish I could just to plunk down my seven bucks where and when I choose, know I’d left the commercials at home, not worry about having the plot of my next movie selection revealed in toto and enjoy the show. But, hey, whoever said life had to be fair? Reading a book looks better every day!

KENNETH J. ARTINGSTALL

Glendale

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The head of Ticketmaster comes out in favor of raising prices at movie theaters. What a surprise.

CARLO PANNO

Tarzana

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Instead of variable movie ticket pricing based on the date and time of a screening, how about basing it on how good a movie is? Something tells me there would be a lot of free screenings.

SHAWN O’GRADY

West Hollywood

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There is evidence that audiences will pay more to see a movie if there is something special about the presentation, such as being shot and presented in twin 70mm 3-D, but otherwise, tiered theater pricing is likely to do more for video rentals than exhibitors.

RICK MITCHELL

Los Angeles